Tourniquet



April 5, 1938. c. R. BROWN v 2,113,534

TOURNIQUET Filed Oct. 24, 1936 INVENTQR dal f1.' rwwz ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOURNIQUET Application October 24, 1936, Serial No. 107,337

1 Claim.

This invention relates to tourniquets of the type adapted for rst aid use.

A feature of the invention consists i a pad of substantial thickness, secured to a strap in a position to extend beneath the buckle for preventing the latter from contacting with the skin of the person to whom the tourniquet is applied. The pad is provided with a slit in substantial alignment with the jaws of said buckle. The

strap extends through the said slit to hold said pad in position beneath said buckle. This construction eiects a self-adjusting tourniquet buckle pad and assures that it is always in the correct position.

A tournquet of the above type is particularly adapted for use on an arm or leg, in which case it is necessary to apply the maximum pressure over the arteries supplying blood to the injured member. In accordance with the present inven- A tion the pad is positioned over this artery and receives the pressure of the buckle and cooperates therewith in applying and holding the desired pressure.

Various other features will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

The invention will be better understood by referring to the embodiment thereof which is shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a portion of an 30 arm showing the tourniquet in place;

Fig, 2 is a plan view of the buckle and pad; and

Fig. 3 is a broken side elevation thereof.

Referring to the drawing more in detail, the tourniquet is shown as comprising a strap I0 formed at one end with the loop I2 which may be secured by rows of stitches I3 and extends` around a bar I4 of an anchor type buckle such as a spring catch I5. The other end of the strap Ill is extended through the jaws I6 of the buckle 4 0 I5 to form a loop adapted to be positioned around the Wounded member such as an arm or leg.

A iiat pad 2B is attached at one end to the loop I2 by a row of stitches 2I and is provided at its other end with a slit 22 through which the strap 45 l passes prior to passage through the jaws I6 of the buckle I5. The pad is preferably formed of substantial thickness and of some soft material (Cl. 12S-327) such as felt. The pad is provided with a neck portion 25 adjacent the row of stitches 2I and with an enlarged body portion 26 which is of suiilcient area to underlie the buckle I5, in which position it is held by the strap I0 passing though the slit 22.

In operation the strap I0 is passed around the injured member with the pad 20 positioned over the artery to which pressure is to be applied. The strap I0 is then tightened by pulling the same 10 through the buckle I5 until the necessary pressure is exerted. 'Ihe pad 20 and the buckle I5 which presses against this pad cause the greatest pressure to be applied at the point over the artery where it is most effective for the intended purpose. It will be noted that inasmuch as the slit 22 is in alignment with the jaws of the buckle, the pad 20 is held under tension by the strap I0 when the strap is tightened in position on the wearer.

While a particular type of buckle has been 20 shown, it is to be understood that any convenient catch mechanism can be employed for holding the strap under tension until it is desired to release the same.

A particular embodiment of the invention has 25 been disclosed for purposes of illustration. It is to be understood that various changes and modications may be made therein as will appear to a person skilled in the art. The invention is only to be limited in accordance with the following claim when interpreted in view of the prior art.

What is claimed is:

In a tourniquet, in combination, a strap and a buckle associated therewith having jaws to hold the strap under tension and a pad of soft material having a neck portion adapted to be attached to said strap and an enlarged body portion located beneath said buckle to prevent the same from contacting with the wearer and to exert an increased pressure at the point of application of said pad, the neck portion of said pad being attached to said strap, the body portion having a slit in alignment with said jaws through which the strap extends so as to hold the pad under tension and in position beneath said buckle.

CECIL R. BROWN. 

